The Latest: Arizona governor signs teacher pay raise plan
The Latest on the Arizona Legislature’s push to pass a $10.4 billion state budget (all times local):
6:30 a.m.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed part of a state budget plan that provides more than $300 million in raises for many of the state’s striking teachers.
Thursday morning’s signing came as the state House continued to debate other parts of the $10.4 billion spending plan but after the Senate concluded work on the plan.
The action came after a weeklong teachers’ strike that shut down school for the great majority of the state’s 1.1 million public school students. teacher vowed to stay out until the funding package passed.
Teachers will get an average 9 percent pay boost this fall and 5 percent more in each of the next two years. The budget package also provides the state’s schools will a partial restoration of nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts.
5:30 a.m.
The Arizona Senate has passed a $10.4 billion state budget plan that provides more than $300 million in raises for many of the state’s striking teachers after working all night.
The House was continuing to debate the budget package as sunrise approached Thursday morning but passage was assured.
The action came after a weeklong teachers’ strike that shut down school for the great majority of the state’s 1.1 million public school students. Strike leaders had called for an end to the walkout if the budget passed Wednesday. But a daylong delay led them to essentially extend it, and many school districts ended up canceling classes for a sixth straight day Thursday.
The Republican-controlled Legislature finally started debating the 10 bills making up the spending plan for the budget year starting July 1 after 8 p.m. Wednesday.
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10 p.m.
Hundreds of Arizona educators continued to crowd the state Capitol as lawmakers debated a state budget plan that hikes teacher pay but doesn’t address other school funding demands.
Educators in red shirts lit candles and sang hymns under the lights of the Capitol complex. They cheered and jeered inside the legislative chambers where lawmakers were in the early stages of debating a Republican-backed $10.4 billion spending plan.
Teachers have been on a statewide strike that could extend into Thursday even if lawmakers pass the budget. Arizona Educators United organizer Noah Karvelis said it was up to teachers and their districts whether they want to stay closed. When many teachers began to call in absences for Thursday, some districts had to close.
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8:10 p.m.
The Arizona Senate and House have begun debating a $10.4 billion state budget plan providing more than $300 million for raises for many of the state’s striking teachers.
The debate began after 8 p.m. Wednesday after a day of fits and starts as last-minute changes on the deal worked out between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Doug Ducey. Minority Democrats weren’t involved in the negotiations.
Debate is expected to last hours as the two chambers work their way through the 10 bills that make up the spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1.
Teachers who had hoped to go back to work Thursday essentially extended their strike by a day to ensure they could continue pressuring the Legislature. Many schools districts planning to re-open Thursday decided to remain closed.
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4 p.m.
Arizona lawmakers appeared set to pull an all-nighter to pass a $10.4 billion state budget plan that provides more than $300 million for raises for many of the state’s striking teachers.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate moved in fits and starts all day Wednesday as they worked on amendments to the budget deal leaders worked out with GOP Gov. Doug Ducey.
Those amendments were part of the usual last-minute changes and horse-trading that comes with a deal that needs 16 Republican votes in the Senate and 31 in the House to pass.
The Senate was expected to begin floor debate on the budget at 8 p.m., and the House expected similar timing. The delay is needed to craft the final changes to the package of 10 bills.
